Most use FOTE AVG - it's pretty readily available. I've never been able to find the Theraneem, but I'd like to try it.

AVG is more for curl enhancement and maybe a little additional light moisture than for hold - most find it gives very little actual hold on its own.

I used to always use a generous amount of it on my very wet hair before I applied any other product for frizz control and curl enhancement. I'm not needing it much nowadays with the products I'm using.

I do usually still apply it to my pineapple the first night after washing my hair to reinforce the curls - helps me get day 3-4 hair, sometimes longer.

Yeah, I don't get any hold at all from FOTE, but a big dollup followed by KCCC, in GA summer humidity, and I'm getting very minimal frizz without sacrificing the giganticness of summer humid hair as I would to some extent with cone products. And my hair feels pretty good, too.

Yeah, I don't get any hold at all from FOTE, but a big dollup followed by KCCC, in GA summer humidity, and I'm getting very minimal frizz without sacrificing the giganticness of summer humid hair as I would to some extent with cone products. And my hair feels pretty good, too.

Originally Posted by CurlyToast

trying this combo! Its exactly what i want.. im finding if i want defined pretty curls i have to soak it in product and have it be weighed down.. but i like my hair big! I heard you can be generous w. the aloe gel and not feel producty. Ive only used it on my twistouts to smooth them. Gotta try this asap!

I have both FOTE and Trader Joe's. You can get FOTE usually at Rite Aid, Walgreens...wherever! Love it. The TJ's one is obvi at TJ's, but be warned, it does have parabens. Kept me away from it initially...but it works so well I got over it!

I agree it works well under KCCC - but also under about anything else I've ever used.

Look on the tanning products aisle at the drug, grocery or discount store (Walmart, Target, etc.) this time of year - large pump bottles are usually on the bottom shelf. I usually used about three pumps.

Last summer I tried using FOTE AVG but had less than stellar results...I used it underneath Biotera gel and my hair just ended up a ball of fluff.

Yesterday I pulled my bottle of FOTE out from under the sink and used it alone. I raked quarter-size dollops into my hair, right out of the shower, until it looked good wet. I had one of the best hair days. My hair was so soft and I had defined curls that actually moved. I tried it again today (used about 4 quarter size dollops) and I'm loving my hair. I hope it keeps up. This will replace the Biotera/Eco-Styler combination I've been using.

Is aloe vera a protein? Cause I tried FOTE, and my hair had an immediate reaction, like a sudden hardness, and I couldn't get my fingers thru it. I RUSHED to rinse it out! That's exactly how my hair reacts to protein, so I was just wondering.

That coulda just been the Biotera gel - may hair doesn't like it at all!

Originally Posted by auntnett

Maybe the combo of FOTE and Biotera. Or maybe my hair has changed over the past year+ of being CG. My hair does like Biotera and it's been my go-to gel along with Eco-Styler. But recently I've wanted something with more of a light hold that would still give me definition. FOTE seems to do the trick.

Is aloe vera a protein? Cause I tried FOTE, and my hair had an immediate reaction, like a sudden hardness, and I couldn't get my fingers thru it. I RUSHED to rinse it out! That's exactly how my hair reacts to protein, so I was just wondering.

Certainly would never have thought of aloe as having protein, at least not much. Have never heard it mentioned here before.

That may be why my hair did like it - I was scared off from protein at first by all the talk of it here, but I know now that my hair needs it. That would have been about the only touch of it I was getting at the time.

Certainly would never have thought of aloe as having protein, at least not much. Have never heard it mentioned here before.

That may be why my hair did like it - I was scared off from protein at first by all the talk of it here, but I know now that my hair needs it. That would have been about the only touch of it I was getting at the time.

Originally Posted by auntnett

Me either. But it makes some sense since other plant extracts can contain protein.

After 3 days my hair isn't loving the aloe vera anymore. It may be something I will use every once in a while. The same thing happened when I used conditioner-only styling. It was great for a few days but then I had to go back to my normal routine.

Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel is the BOMB! I'm glad it didnt take me long to discover it. I tried it last week just on a whim because I walked by it in Walmart (can be found in the suntan lotion/sunburn treatment isle).

my curls instantly went to defined mode. score!

only thing though I've got to find the right combination of AVG and my shea mix because I don't want to much of the crunch that the AVG gives me when i used it alone (dried 100% in like 3 hours and hair was FRIZZ free) and i think I put too much of my shea mix because my hair dried white AND it took forever to dry..like a whole day.

oh and my wash n go was looking great for 4 days without any spritzing..my hair was in moisture heaven!

Does anybody have any suggestions on what to use along with it to reduce crunch? it doesn't have to be completely gone...I just want less of it.

I use a lot of aloe based products, and aloe gels as well. I have FOTE, it's not my fave but I use it occasionally. I use aloe gels from WF (LOTD, WF brand) occasionally too. I most often grab my EWSAJ which is basically just aloe and a few additives.